Friday, February 14, 2014

AMIRI BARAKA - AFRICAN AMERICAN REVIEW VOLUME

Some years ago, unhappy with the sparse, recent critical work on Baraka, I joined together with Kalamu ya Salaam and William J. Harris to co-edit a special double issue of African American Review dedicated to Baraka's works. It remains sadly the case that we haven't had all that many substantive critical books on Baraka during the past fifteen years, though there are exceptions like Komozi Woodard's book and there have been some really sharp essays and book chapters. While we wait for the next round of readings to emerge, you might well want to fetch this volume and spend some time with it. Here you'll find a moving note from Lorenzo Thomas, Ben Lee on Baraka and open form, Meta Jones on Baraka and jazz, Paul Youngquist's essential work on Baraka and Sci Fi, Farah Jasmine Griffin's prize-winning essay on Baraka's Billie holiday, and much else, including interviews. AND, always the poetry:(AFTER THE RAIN)I used to be simpleWhen the world Was"When was that?"An LP after the '45After the '78When the sky was far awayWhen humans had facesWhen the world mindedIts own business& poetry was a dreamthat left no footprints . . . .